By Duane Cochran
For the Times West Virginian
FAIRMONT —
Eric Eitson needed a home.
Fairmont State gave him one and the Falcons hope their investment will pay big dividends this fall on the football field.
Eitson is a 6-3, 210-pound receiver from Augusta, Ga. who played two years of junior college football at West Hills Community College in California and the story of how he came to settle in Fairmont is not an uncommon one among the droves of college football players across the country.
Highly-touted coming out of Cross Creek High School in Augusta, Eitson had his sights set on playing football at South Carolina State University, but his SAT scores weren’t high enough and he was steered toward West Hills.
There Eitson caught 18 passes for 321 yards and three scores as a freshman, but he suffered a knee injury that fall which would plague him for an entire year. Eitson had surgery to mend his knee, but he says the rehab following that wasn’t at the level it should have been.
“My rehab really wasn’t as good as it should’ve been and it just seemed like it was one thing after another and it affected me my sophomore year,” he said.
Eitson returned to the field for his sophomore season but his production dropped. He finished the fall of 2009 with just 11 receptions for 210 yards. Still, Eitson, who had a second surgery on his knee by Dr. David Hunter of Augusta who does all of the knee surgeries for the University of Georgia athletes, appeared headed toward the big time as he peaked some interest from Utah State.
“I was actually committed to Utah State University and was waiting to sign,” he said. “Coach (Angel) Estrada from here, who is now at West Liberty, called me last fall and told me Fairmont was very interested in me. I told him I appreciated that, but that I was already committed to Utah State. He told me if that didn’t work out to call him back. Well, things there for one reason or another didn’t work out. Signing day came and went and I didn’t have a school so I called coach Estrada back and told him if anything was available I’d take it. I was ready to pack my bags and come. I just wanted a chance to play.”
Fairmont’s other connection to Eitson came through new offensive coordinator Bryan Fisher who played college football at Samford University with Eitson’s high school head coach Scott Tate.
“The offense we’re running here is very multiple and it keeps the defense honest,” said Eitson. “As for me I really appreciate the fact that Fairmont State brought me here. I could’ve gone anywhere to play in a spread offense, but the way I’ve been accepted here and especially for them to have a need at this position which I fit into, it’s really been a blessing for me.”
The Falcons definitely had a need for a big-play receiver to help complement senior standout Perry Baker and they’re banking on Eitson to fill that role. At times Eitson shows flashes of brilliance, but on other occasions he’s shown a propensity to drop balls. Case in point this past Thursday during the Falcons’ situational scrimmage when Eitson dropped more passes (3) than he caught (1), including a sure long touchdown pass from quarterback Logan Moore.
“That’s not the norm,” said Eitson, who was visibly upset with himself after the practice session. “I had a bad day, but I’m putting that behind me. If you have a bad play you’ve got to let it go and move forward. I know I’ve got to get stronger in that area and I promise I will. And that doesn’t just go for me, but our whole offense. If coach Fisher calls something and we don’t execute it properly as a unit we’ve got to put it behind us and come back and try that much harder on the next play to execute it right.
“Starting Friday, Aug. 27 there’s going to be a change in my practices. You can believe that.”
Fairmont State is coming off a disappointing 3-8 season. The eight losses suffered in 2009 were the most by an FSU squad since 1991. If things are to turn around this fall the margin of error for the Falcons has to be minimal.
“One of the first things I noticed about this team when I got here is that the competition level is high,” said Eitson. “For this team coming off a 3-8 season I see a definite hunger here among the guys and especially the veterans. For me being a transfer and a veteran I want change here too and I want to be a part of that. I want to see us make some history here and get this program back to the level its expected to be at.”
